The Safety and Well-being of Young People is Our Number One Priority
For 63 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove has served youth and families in Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Stanton, Anaheim, Westminster, and Cypress. The safety and protection of the children we serve is always our number one priority.
Our organization is committed to the highest standards of safety and integrity and maintains a zero tolerance policy for behavior that harms a child. Our Clubs are designed and programmed to be physically and emotionally safe places for our children and teens under the guidance of caring, trained, and trustworthy staff.
Mandatory Background Checks
All BGCGG employees and volunteers undergo a thorough criminal background check before joining the organization. Staff and volunteers are immediately placed into subsequent arrest program with the DOJ/FBI and BGCGG is update automatically of any arrests.
Required Immediate Reporting
Boys & Girls Clubs staff are all Mandated Reporters and are therefore required to report any suspected child abuse to Child Protective Services. All new hires must complete Mandated Reporting Training. BGCGG Staff are required to report any critical incident/safety concern to local authorities immediately. They are also required to report any critical incident to Boys & Girls Clubs of America within 24 hours.
Safety Plan
Our Clubs maintain a comprehensive safety plan that includes emergency procedures and reporting requirements for any incident that could pose harm to a youth or staff. The plan is updated annually by a safety committee, and all Club staff are trained during their onboarding process and twice per year afterwards.
Safety Policies
BGCGG has safety policies that prioritize the safety of youth we serve above all else. These policies include but are not limited to, supervision, transportation to and from Clubs, appropriate communications and prohibition of private one-on-one contact (excluding confidential behavioral health services appointments with our certified professionals).
Safety Training
Ongoing training and supervision of staff is critical. BGCGG staff participate in a wide variety of child safety training conducted through an annual organization-wide Safety Awareness Day, continuous safety training, and a culture that encourages the sharing of best practices. Expectations about the responsibility that every BGCGG staff person has for the safety of children start at the first-day of orientation.
Mandatory Annual Safety Assessments
Each BGCGG location completes a safety self-assessment each year. We also conduct 2-3 facility audits of Club sites to access the conditions of the Club with an eye on any areas of concern for youth and staff safety. (Club transportation are accessed during these audits).
Safety Committee of the Board
We have a dedicated safety committee of the Board that provides advice and oversight of BGCGG’s safety policy.
Mandatory Employee Reference
BGCGG adheres to BGCA’s requirement that any employee interested in moving to another Boys & Girls Club is required to have a reference from the previous Club, even if the Clubs are within the same community.
State and Local Laws
BGCGG complies with federal, state, and local safety laws, including those impacting facilities and vehicles.
